I'm back! And having a blast writing this story. ^_^ It's fun so far, and it gets pretty dramatic soon. ;D
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, just the plot and some of the characters. :)
Chapter 9
The sun's brightness eliminated the room. The doors had thin, nearly clear windows, allowing the light to brighten up the room. I felt stiff and well rested. I hadn't slept like that in ages, and it felt amazing. I wet to stretch out my arms when I felt a heavy weight on my waist. Allowing my eyes to travel downward, I noticed a pale arm around me and felt warm breath on my neck. Taking a deep breath, I turned to see a sleeping Itachi very close to me.
I stared at him, watching his face as he slept. He looked so peaceful and relaxed. He had lost some of the bags under his eyes, showing a face that was gorgeous and flawless.
No! No! You can't do that! Pick up his hand, and take it off! Do it... Now!
I couldn't seem to bring my body to move... My mind knew exactly what to do, but I couldn't move. He took a deep breath before slowly opening his eyes. I hadn't realized I had been holding my breath until he smirked at me.
"Your face is red. You okay?" He knew I was blushing... before I even knew it. I narrowed my eyes at him and lifted his hand off me and threw off the covers. "Hmm. I seem to recall you not wanting me to touch you... and yet you didn't do anything..." He was on his back, his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. I walked into the bathroom and started to take off my clothes. I could practically hear the bath calling my name.
It was pretty warm, so I eased my way into it. And it felt amazing. I sighed contentedly as my shoulders rested on the side of the tub. I looked to my left and saw a plethora of fancy scents. After weighing the pros and cons of each, I chose the camellia and sandalwood scented mixture.
Stupid Itachi... He's just lucky that I didn't end his life. But maybe he was the reason I didn't freeze last night...
At one point during the night my feet were uncovered and it resulted in a very uncomfortable me. I couldn't get warm, and I couldn't cool down. I supposed I shifted a lot in the night... Until I got comfortable. I still had no idea who reached for whom... but I wouldn't let it get to me. I was here for a reason... even if it was to simply relax.
I stood up and grabbed a towel, reveling in the scent that coated my skin. I loved this smell, and would have to get it when I returned to my duties... even if I never used it; it would be there just for me in case I wanted to change something up.
I looked in the mirror and examined my face. My pupils looked huge, and my cheeks were still a little red. But that was probably from the bath. I changed into my clothes, not bothering with the long sleeve shirt or scarf. It was gonna be warm, and to wear that many layers when I'm not going out was pointless.
I stepped out of the bathroom to see an empty bed. My senses went into overload, trying to pinpoint Itachi, before calling out for him. The sound of sizzling made my heartrate speed up, and the smell of something cooking drove me to the kitchen. Itachi was standing with a frying pan and spatula, frying some veggies and meat. He was in a black sleeveless shirt with his black baggy pants. His ponytail just as perfect as always, and his gaze never left the food.
I padded my way into the kitchen, standing very close to him. I sniffed and felt my mouth start to water. I heard him chuckle softly before holding the frying pan right in front of my nose. I sniffed greedily and nearly fell onto him when he took it away.
"Patience. It's not done yet. Why don't you set the table?" I raised my eyebrow and huffed. I set out to find the bowls and chopsticks. There were so many cabinets, and most of them were full of quick and easy meals. I finally located the bowls and placed them onto the table, making sure a mat was under each. I found the chopsticks in a drawer blocked by Itachi. He moved over it as I reached for it, resulting my hand touching his leg. I recoiled quickly and looked at him through narrowed eyes.
"You're not helping Itachi... You're hindering. Now... move!" I tried to push him aside, but to no avail.
Either he's REALLY heavy, or he's really strong.
I used as much strength as I could to move him out of the way, but unfortunately for me; I wasn't a God of strength. My "strength" was strategizing and giving commands. To this day I had no idea why I was ranked Lt. Commander; I had no physical strength whatsoever. I was very fast though... as a wolf.
Being a human SUCKS!
I used one arm to try and grab the drawer, knowing he would block it, and then switched to the other side, only to be blocked again. My hands were now trapped between the drawer and Itachi. My face was against his back, leaving me no room to move. I started banging my head against his back, avoiding his spine.
"Itachi! Move! I'm freaking hungry!" He laughed out and then released my hands from their prisons. I grabbed a single set of chopsticks and sat down at the table. He poured some rice into my bowl and then the vegetables and chicken. I sighed contentedly and dug into my bowl. The food was amazing. Itachi sat across from me with an arched eyebrow. I feigned innocence, and looked at him. "What's wrong?"
He narrowed his eyes, the ghost of a smile on his lips. "Where are my chopsticks?" I blinked and looked down at the spot where his food was. I raised my eyebrows and grinned. "Oh... I'm sorry. It's the weirdest thing. I was trying to get two of them, but some jerk face decided to block my way... Prolonging the wait for food. So I just figured he didn't want to eat." I smiled wickedly at him, watching him roll his eyes and stand up.
Ha. Kana: 1 Itachi: 0
We ate in silence, enjoying the food he made. I had never had anything like this before, and that was saying something. At the gatherings for the Gods and Goddesses, we had a variety of exotic foods, ranging from all over the world. Everything was made by professionals, and was top of the line. It was never a simple meal.
When I finished I walked to the sink and placed my bowl and chopsticks into the sink. Itachi's footsteps followed mine, lightly touching the floor. I stepped aside and looked out the window. It must have been about ten in the morning now, the birds tweeted merrily, and the fog had not yet lifted completely.
"There is a festival tonight. All the villages in a five-mile radius are going to come here and celebrate. It's the Festival Of The Sun, and I think we should go." Itachi stood against the counter, arms crossed. His eyes searched mine, trying to read my thoughts. I had to admit it sounded interesting. There were many festivals in honor of the Gods, but I had never been to one...
"And why do you think we should go?" I wasn't saying no, but I wanted to know why he wanted to go...
"We are here to relax and get away from our responsibilities for a while. I know that's not what we should do... In fact, we never should have come here, but I suspect that something big is coming, and with that in mind, I believe we should take this time to ourselves." He never stopped watching me, and I almost felt self-conscious. I was also at a loss for words. I gave him a small smile and nodded. "I agree. We should go."
He smiled and walked over to the bedroom, towing me behind him. He tossed me onto the bed and walked into the bathroom. I sat, exasperated, unsure of what to do.
I'm... changing. There's no way I'd let anyone get away with just throwing me onto a bed... But... it is Itachi... Am I... falling?
I shook my head violently, getting rid of the thought immediately. I couldn't fall for a human. Especially one that wishes to die, and has me helping him get his goal.
Itachi walked out of the bathroom, his robe in his hands. I watched the floor, not wanting to look at him, aware that my suspicions would be deemed correct if I did.
"I'm going into town to get a few materials. Stay here, and don't burn down this place. I should be gone for less than an hour." He strode out of the room, closing the bedroom door behind him.
If he was leaving why the hell did he throw me onto the bed! That was the most random, annoying thing I've ever witnessed!
I was frustrated and fuming. I grabbed a pillow and screamed into it. I was furious at myself for falling for a freaking human! When I was out of air, I stood and opened the doors forcefully, taking in the fresh mid-day air. I walked into the garden and examined the blooming flowers. There were so many different kinds that I almost felt sad; I'd never seen so many kinds of flowers before, and they all smelt amazing. Spying a large, flat rock, I sat down and meditated. I needed to get my mind back on track, and it was easier when he wasn't around.
I didn't know how long I had sat out there, but the sound of clicking shoes broke my concentration. I opened one eye and watched Itachi circle the garden. From my vantage point, he couldn't see me. I watched him as he examined the flowers and surrounding area. He looked almost as peaceful as when he was sleeping this morning. He ran his hand over the large bush of red and pink flowers, and then he bent over to intake their scent. This action caught me by surprise; I'd never expected to see him do that. Ever.
"I know you're over there, so just come out. I've got a few things for you." My eyes widened as he straightened and looked over towards me. I was sure he couldn't see me. I stretched out my legs and stood, letting life creep into them again. I slowly walked over to him, noticing how his gaze wandered over my whole body. Feeling suddenly exposed, despite my clothes, I crossed my arms in front of my chest; my last defense. He smirked and turned towards the house. I followed after a few paces.
"There's some clothes on the bed for you. They're for tonight. And there's some jewelry on the bathroom counter. When you're ready, we will eat a late lunch and then got over to the village. The old lady from yesterday said that the festival starts around four, and goes until midnight." He sat on the bed, his eyes closed, waiting for me to finish. I suspected he wanted a nap, and I felt he wouldn't mind me taking a while to get dressed.
As I entered the bathroom with the clothes I realized something really upsetting; I didn't know how to put any of the clothes on. I examined each article closely, understanding where your arms went, and where to stick your head. After a good forty-five minutes of struggling, I got the clothes on. When foreign rulers would visit the heavens, they'd tell us stories of their homeland. One described a sentient being known as a genie, which would grant three of your wishes. By their descriptions, I'd say that I resembled them. However, my midsection was, thankfully, covered. My pants were baggy, and my sleeveless top hugged my curves. They were an incredible shade of green, and flattered my skin tone.
There were earrings, rings, and bracelets. I put the earrings in the three lobe piercings I had, and the rings on my fingers. The bracelets, I assumed, went together as one whole group, and I donned that on my left hand. None of these things were cheap, that was for sure. I felt guilty that Itachi had indulged me with nice clothes and expensive jewelry. I didn't know what I'd do with them after we left this place.
I sighed sadly and left the room. Itachi was in the same position on the bed, obviously very asleep. I smirked and walked over to his sleeping figure. Noticing some stray hairs in his face, I removed them. He moved slightly, resulting in my whole body freezing. My heart was stopped and my breathing had become nonexistent. When he didn't open his eyes, I resumed my examination. His nose was perfectly angled, his forehead wrinkle free and flat. His cheekbones were high, and exaggerated the shape of his face. His chin was pointed and sharp. I lightly traced my finger over his nose, eyebrows and cheeks. After this week, I would probably never see him alive again.
My brow furrowed, sadness and frustration entering my mind. It was selfish of him to keep the truth from his brother. He would take himself away from the people who loved him to satisfy his brother's anger and his guilt. I withdrew my hand and looked away from his face; unable to forget the sadness I was beginning to feel.
"Why'd you stop? That felt good." I froze and looked at him, eyes wide. He was looking at me through his eyelashes, humor in his eyes. I forgot my embarrassment almost right away, and let the sadness etch its way onto my features. Furrowing his brow, he sat up and looked at me. "What's wrong?" He was whispering now.
"You're dying... You want to die. When Sasuke finds out the truth, what will you do? Are you willing to accept that you're leaving him behind?" My voice was barely audible, but I knew he could hear me loud and clear. I took the time to look at him, watching as he came up with his argument.
"I need Sasuke to cleanse me of what I did. Yes, I'm dying. And I'd rather go out by his hand than any other way. I know that he will one day find out the truth, and I hope that when he does, he'll forgive me and himself." He reached his hand up to touch my face, brushing aside some fallen hair. I stilled at the motion, aware that he was very close. My heart stuttered. I bit my lip, trying to remain in control of my emotions. I nodded and stood, looking down at him.
"Let's go to the festival. We need it..." I smiled, and I knew he could tell it didn't reach my eyes.
There you go. :) I'll update as soon as I can... so... hopefully tomorrow. I'm working on chapter 12 right now. Let me know what you think so far! ^_^
